Yarn-finding device



g- 27 1968 c. c. BELL 3,398,906

YARN-FINDING DEVICE Filed March 5, 1967 United States Patent 0 W 3,398,906 YARN-FINDING DEVICE Charles C. Bell, Warwick, R.I., assignor to Leesona Corporation, Warwick, KL, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 620,480 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-35.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of invention and background This invention relates to textile machinery and more particularly to a method of, and apparatus for, locating a'free end of yarn on a yarn package and withdrawing the free yarn end for a subsequent operation.

Difliculties are encountered in various textile operations such as spinning, twisting, and winding as a result of the free end of yarn on a yarn package becoming embedded or lost in the surface of the package. When the aforesaid occurs before the package can be utilized, either in an interrupted operation or in a subsequent operation, it is necessary to locate the free end and withdraw it from the package. Various expediencies are employed for 10- cating and withdrawing the free end of yarn. For example, US. Patent No. 3,074,660 describes a means of ap plying a so-called foot and tip wind to a supply bobbin in order that the bobbin can be used with a device such as that described in US. Patent Nos. 3,136,494 or 3,059,866 to withdraw the free yarn end from the bobbin for passage to the knotter of an automatic winding machine. Additionally means, as will be more fully developed hereinafter, of finding a free yarn end on an automatic Winding machine are shown in Kieronski U.S. Patent No. 3,217,- 235. Although the means described in the prior art are advantageous, the mechanisms employed are relatively complex, both in construction and operation.

Objects and brief description of invention Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for readying a yarn package for a subsequent operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for locating and withdrawing a free yarn end imbedded in the surface of a yarn package.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a yarn adherent surface which is conformable to the shape of yarn packages of various configurations and engageable therewith to seize and withdraw the free end of yarn while the yarn package is rotated.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device having a plurality of interdigitating fingerlike elements typically mounted in abutting side-by-side relationship, each of said fingerlike elements having a yarn 3,398,906 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 adherent surface engageable with a yarn package, whereby the plurality of said elements forms a surface which is in contact with the entire surface of a yarn package to locate, seize and withdraw the free end of yarn from the package.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description, with emphasis being placed upon the drawing.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention are accomplished by constructing a device having a yarn adherent surface which will engage a yarn package while the package is being rotated. Preferably, the device will have a plurality of pivotably mounted fingerlike elements disposed in side-by-side abutting relationship. Each of the fingerlike elements is formed of, or has a yarn adherent substance thereon which will seize a free yarn end on the package. Preferably, the elements will define a surface conformable to the entire outer surface of the yarn package. In operation, the fingerlike elements will contact a yarn package while the yarn package is being rotated in an unwinding direction. After the fingerlike elements contact the outer surface of the yarn package, and the yarn adherent substance has located and seized the free yarn end, the fingerlike elements are moved away from the surface of the yarn package, withdrawing the free yarn end. The free yarn end can be utilized in any of various subsequent operations.

Essentially, therefore, the apparatus of the invention comprises a deformable surface of yarn adherent material which, in operation, is brought into contact with a yarn package. The yarn adherent material is conformable to a plurality of shapes and sizes of yarn packages. Upon rotating the yarn package in an unwinding direction while in contact with the yarn adherent material, the free end of the yarn package is located and seized. Upon removing the yarn adherent material from the package, the free yarn end is withdrawn and readied for a subsequent operation.

The improved apparatus and method of readying a yarn package for subsequent operation in accordance with the present invention will be more readily apparent by reference to the drawing wherein like numerals are employed throughout to designate like parts.

The drawing In the drawing, FIGURES 1a, 1b and 1c illustrate an apparatus having a plurality of yarn engaging elements, and the operation of the apparatus in three sequential steps;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view along lines 2-2 of FIG- URE 1b;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 10 to illustrate in greater detail the yarn engaging elements having a yarn adherent surface formed thereon; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to 'FIGURE 2 showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the yarn finding device according to the invention comprises a post 10 having a plurality of substantially parallel and equally spaced circular grooves at its periphery, the plane of each groove being generally perpendicular to the axis of the post. A collar 11 is fitted and clamped into each groove with screw means 12. The collar can be adjustable in the grooves to permit rotation of the fingers. The thickness of the collar is somewhat greater than the depths of the grooves to permit fastening of fingers 13 tangentially thereto by welding means, or the like. Fingers 13 are parallel to one another and lie generally in a plane perpendicular to the vertical post 10. The extremities of the fingers 13a are enlarged and arcuately shaped and preferably have a radius great enough to receive any size yarn package which may conceivably be encountered. A plurality of torsion springs 14 having one end imbedded in vertical post and the other end engaging fingers 13 bias the arcuately shaped finger portions 13a.

The concave surfaces formed by the arcuately shaped finger portion 13a are covered or coated with a yarn adherent material 15. The yarn adherent material can be bonded to the fingers by various means, such as gluing or the like. As is apparent, the fiber adherent ma terial can be any material which is capable of seizing and holding a yarn end. A material marketed by Minne sota Mining and Manufacturing Company under the trade name Scotch-Brite which is a non-Woven nylon impregnated with aluminum oxide or silicon carbide is excellent for this purpose. Other materials which can be used include the material described in US. Patent Nos. 2,717,437 and 3,009,235 and sold by the Velcro Corporation, New York, N.Y., barbed bristles, etc. As seen from FIGURES 2 and 3, the yarn adherent material can be applied independently to each of the plurality of fingers or as a continouus coating over the plurality of fingers. In either embodiment, the individual torsion springs 14 allow the extremity 13a of the fingers to engage the outer surface of the yarn package independently of the other fingers.

As shown in FIGURE la, in operating the apparatus according to the present invention the device is normally out of contact with the yarn package during a winding operation. In this position, the fingerlike elements are held by rod 16 which is pivotably mounted to post 10. However, when a yarn end is to be located, the plurality of elements are moved in contact with the yarn package T while the package is rotated on a mandrel M. (FIG- URE 1b.) During this step the free yarn end is located and seized. After one or more revolutions of the package in an unwinding direction, the plurality of elements are moved away from the package, withdrawing the free yarn end as seen in FIGURE 10. The free yarn end is thereafter extracted from the yarn adherent material, as for example by means of a positive air pressure, suction or the like, ready for a subsequent operation.

Specific utility The yarn end finding device of the present invention can be adapted to textile machinery of various types employing conventional installations. For example, in the event the textile machinery utilizes a manual operation, the post 10 can be positioned in a slot for guiding the device into and out of contact with the rotating yarn package. Alternatively, post 10 can be hollow and the device fitted over a pin. Bobbins from a spinning operation, or the like, are moved past the device, as for example on a wheel, where the yarn adherent surface is brought into contact with the bobbin, the free yarn end extracted from the package, ready for a subsequent operation. Furthermore, the device can be used directly on an automatic Winding machine where bobbins of various sizes are rewound onto a takeup package for subsequent use in manufacturing fabrics of various types or for processing into stretch yarn or the like and thereafter the stretch yarn utilized in fabrics. Goodhue US. Patent No. 2,764,362 issued September 25, 1956, fully describes such a device. In automatic winding devices of the type described by Goodhue, it has been necessary to employ supply bobbins which have a special Winding such as described in the aforesaid US. Patent No. 3,074,660 or supply bobibns of the type taught by Goodhue where the final windings of the service wind on the bobbin are at or near the top of the bobbin as the bobbin is positioned on a spinning frame. As a final incident in the operation of the frame winding these bobbins, the yarn guide means of the frame is lower to the butt end or base of the bobin in a relatively rapid motion at which time winding of the bobbin is stopped. The final motion produces a rather steep helical turn or possibly several steep helical turns of yarn over the outer wraps of yarn on the service wind. When the supply bobbin is positioned in the winding machinefor unwinding, these wraps are extricated and the free end passed to the knotter of the winding machine. Kieronski U.S. Patent No. 3,217,325 describes an improved means of extricating the yarn end from the supply bobbin.

As is apparent, by employing the presently described yarn end finding device in automatic Winding machines of the type described by Goodhue, it is not necessary to put a special wind on the supply bobbin since the loose end can be located and extricated regardless of its position on the supply bobbin.

Inasmuch as the actual automatic winding machine forms no part of the present invention, which only relates to the yarn finding means, a detailed disclosure of the conventional apparatus will not be set forth herein. Reference is made to the aforesaid Goodhue and Kieronski patents for a teaching of the essential features. Furthermore, since the adaptation of the presently described device to the Goodhue machine can be accomplished by one skilled in the art having the present specification, as well as the Goodhue and Kieronski patents as a guide, a detailed description of the adaptation will not be set forth herein.

It should be appreciated that the invention is not to be construed to be limited by the illustrative embodiment. It is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed. Such embodiments are within the ability of one skilled in the art.

It is claimed:

1. A method of readying a yarn package for a subsequent operation comprising the steps of rotating the package about its axis in the unwinding direction, contacting the package with a yarn adherent surface general- 1y conformable to the shape of the package to locate and seize the free end of yarn of said package, and withdrawing the yarn adherent surface holding the free end of yarn of said package.

2. The method of claim 1, including removing the free end of yarn from the yarn adherent surface.

3. A device for readying a yarn package for a subsequent operation comprising means operable to rotate said package about its axis, a yarn adherent surface generally conformable to the shape of said package, means normally holding said surface at a location distant from said package, means for moving said surface from said distant location into engagement with said package as it rotates in the unwinding direction to locate and seize the free end of yarn, and means to withdraw said yarn adherent surface from said package.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the yarn adherent surface comprises a plurality of interdigitating fingers pivotally mounted in side-by-side relationship, each of said fingers having a yarn adherent element thereon.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the outer extremity of the interdigitating fingers are enlarged and arcuately shaped.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the yarn adherent material is individually attached to each of the plurality of fingers.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the yarn adherent material is continuous and covers the outer extremities of said fingers in flexible and conforming relationship with said bobbin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1962 Reiners 24235.6 1/1963 Furst 24235.6

Furst 242-356 Furst 24235.6

Wey 242-48 Furst 24235.6 Cruickshank et a1. 242-356 Kieronski 242-35.6

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

